The United States Senate recently passed a bill designating the bald eagle as the national bird, more than 200 years after it first symbolized the country.
According to the New York Post, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota proposed the legislation, which received unanimous approval.
Senator Cynthia Lummis commented, “For over 240 years, the bald eagle has embodied American values, yet it has never been officially our national bird. Today’s bipartisan support moves us closer to affirming the eagle’s role as a permanent symbol of our freedom. I anticipate the legislation will soon pass the House and be signed into law.”
Historically, the eagle has symbolized national identity since the Roman times, appearing on remnants like the ‘SPQR’ seal. Chosen by America’s Founding Fathers for being native to the region, the bald eagle predominantly resides in the United States, with populations in Canada and Mexico, as per the National Park Services.
The bald eagle became a key American symbol in 1782 when it featured on the seal of the newly independent United States. Initially, designers considered a simpler white eagle for the seal. Several committees struggled to finalize the design, prompting Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Congress, to consolidate their efforts. The Continental Congress adopted this design in June 1782 as the Great Seal of the United States.
Throughout the 20th century, the bald eagle encountered numerous challenges, particularly its ambiguous legal status following the American Revolution. Its symbolic importance also made it a target for excessive hunting, which led to the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. This law banned shooting or selling the bird and played a crucial role in stabilizing its population.
After World War II, the use of the pesticide DDT devastated local fish populations, the primary food source for the eagles, resulting in many becoming sterile or producing eggs that were too fragile and often broke during nesting. However, conservation efforts intensified after the government banned DDT and listed the eagle as an endangered species in 1978. The rigorous enforcement of the 1940 protection law contributed significantly to the recovery of the species. By 2007, the bald eagle was no longer on the endangered list and continues to thrive.
